God’s Order of Events: The Church Age

On Monday, January 30, 2012, I was interviewed by host Brian Thomas of Blessings to Israel Ministries on his “God First” program. During the 45-minute interview we discussed the prophetic sequence of end time events, placing each event into its proper chronological order.

Introductions

Brian Thomas: Greetings in the name of our wonderful Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! And thank you for tuning in to the “God First” program. My name is Brian C. Thomas and I’m honored and delighted to have today a special guest — Nathan Jones of Lamb and Lion Ministries. Nathan, thank you for coming on today to speak with us.

Nathan Jones: It’s a great blessing to be speaking with you about one of our favorite subjects, Brian — Bible prophecy.

Nathan is here to speak on the topic “Bible Prophecy: God’s Order of Events.” I invited you on this topic, Nathan, because growing up there were a lot of things that I heard concerning what is going to happen in the future with the return of Christ and eternity that I just accepted as the truth. But, I began to realize that some of what I was taught wasn’t exactly what the Bible is saying. For example, I had the impression that when we die we go off to live in Heaven and that’s where we spend eternity, floating on clouds as disembodied spirits. But, that’s not exactly true. There are a lot of myths out there concerning events of the future that get passed along that are not exactly accurate. So, you are here to explain their proper order and clear up the cloudy areas for us as to what truly will happen in God’s order of events.

1) The Church Age

Brian Thomas: Let’s begin by speaking about the Church Age. We’ll sort of step back a little bit in time then come to the present and then finally go to the future. How does the Church Age fit into Bible prophecy?

Nathan Jones: Ironically enough, the Church Age really didn’t fit into Old Testament Bible prophecy. Many times later it was referred to as a mystery. It wasn’t understood by the Old Testament prophets. What the Old Testament prophets expected when the Messiah came would be that His Kingdom would begin and that’d be it. They didn’t know there was going to be an age called the Church Age in between the two comings of the Messiah.

The Church Age officially began at the Day of Pentecost when the Lord gave the Apostles and the other disciples the gift of the Holy Spirit. After that they went out and started sharing the Gospel. You can read in Acts how the Church started growing and flourishing. The Church Age is actually the time period that we live in now, and it’s still the time when the Church is growing and flourishing and the Gospel is getting out to the whole world.

In the Old Testament, the Jews were to be the example of holy living. One had to go the Temple in Jerusalem to worship God and you had to follow the laws. And so, people looked at the Jews and they looked at Israel and would say, “Okay, because of their holy example we want to join them and become like them.” Missions was all funneled into Israel. Inversely, with the Church Age, it’s the opposite missions strategy than the Old Testament Israel model. Instead, the Church Age funnels evangelism through its believers out into the world. Instead of everyone coming to Jerusalem to learn about God, everybody who knows Christ goes out into the world to share Christ.

The Church Age that we live in is directed by the Great Commission. Matthew 28:19-20 reads, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and the Holy Spirit. And teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.” This is Jesus talking, giving the Church His Great Commission. He is sending the Church out into the world to get the Gospel across the entire planet. And, when Jesus says, “to the very end of the age,” He’s talking about the end of this age — the Church Age.

Brian Thomas: You touched on the Church Age beginning at the time when Jesus Christ left the earth or shortly thereafter, correct?

Nathan Jones: Correct. There is some debate whether the Church Age began during Jesus’ ministry or at Jesus’ ascension or on the Day of Pentecost. I believe it to be the Day of Pentecost because immediately the Apostles go out and start witnessing. That’s when we start seeing the word “church” used prolifically. We start seeing that 3,000 more were added to the church, and 5,000 were added to the church, and so on. That’s why I believe the Day of Pentecost officially began the Church Age.

In the next part of this series on God’s order of events, Brian and I will discuss the next in the series — the Rapture of the Church and what immediately follows in Heaven.

In article, Nathan Jones said… [Well axually, he said several tings that even buffaloed me for a while! I had to re-read it a couple times…And Pls keep in mind that I know public speaking, – that the mouth keeps following the original, 1st response 'program' while the brain searches desperately for other avenues of expression!]

But anyway most notably, Nathan said:

"…And so, people looked at the Jews and they looked at Israel and would say, "Okay, because of their holy example we want to join them and become like them."

Nooooooooo waaaay!!! That's not human nature at all!! …Holiness ==> fig leaves quickly sewn together & a quick dash into the woods to hide!!Aaaaaand, that's not the purpose of the Dispensations!

Here, let me extract that mote from yer eye soz you can see this all more clearly…Bwaaaaaaaa haaaaa haaa haa! [Actually 1 of my favorite Vss.];-D

Wut you should have said wuz:

Israel, as a Nation, was intended to be the proverbial "Light-on-a-hill" that Jesus mentioned in Matthew 5:14, addressing ONLY Israel at that particular time:

"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid…" ==> that would have been the "envy" of all the nations [appealing to our nature] to fill the God-shaped hole in us, and draw all people back into the Favor and Blessings of God.

1stly, by the obvious "material" blessings that were upon Israel, but 2ndly, by the stronger feeling of the need for a repaired "relationship" with the One, True God! – A God that was different from all the other gods, in that He was not just another Mighty Warrior in battle, but that He actually loved, favored, communed, and blessed His people!

Nathan Jones also said:"…Missions was all funneled into Israel. Inversely, with the Church Age, it's the opposite missions strategy than the Old Testament Israel model. Instead, the Church Age funnels evangelism through its believers out into the world. Instead of everyone coming to Jerusalem to learn about God, everybody who knows Christ goes out into the world to share Christ…"

Ok, that wuz the 1 I had to muddle thru an undisclosed x times…"funneling"…hmmmph!?!IOW-InOtherWords, Israel's national "Light-on-a-hill" mission has now been moved into every Christian's personal life as the "Light-on-a-hill" mission to the world!

"funneling"…hmmmph!?!

But Hey, Nathan, thanx fer giving us the opportunity 2 simply set you straight once in awhile, as opposed 2 certain others that like to try to beat & thrash you senseless…😉

I agree! The fact that the Church was an unrevealed ‘mystery’ is a vital detail when dealing with the C.T. idea that it has always existed as ‘Israel’ in the O.T.

The Church as it became Christ’s Body couldn’t begin until after the death, resurrection and ascension of Christ and the coming of the Holy Spirit. It was given to the Apostle Paul to reveal the mysteries at his commissioning in Col 1:27.

Yesterday I posted the following comment on a Postie site who pointed out that the word ‘church’ is used before Acts 2. It is, but in the future tense. It is also used in the Septuagint version of the O.T. which C.T. claim as ‘evidence’ of the Church’s continual existence through the nation of Israel.

“Matt.16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I WILL build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Future tense)

The word translated ‘church’ is the Greek ekklesia and means the same as the Hebrew ‘synagogue’; ‘a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly convened at the public place of the council for the purpose of deliberating…’ they could be Jews, Gentiles, Christians even the dead in Christ. In this sense it is used as a generic term, not as a noun meaning THE Church as we mean it as Christ’s Body.

Trench is very informative on the progression of the words ecclesia and synagogue (from general to specific) until it achieved “it’s highest meaning of all”

The gathering of Christians was called an ekklesia generically. THE Ekklesia – specific, as the Body of Christ did not begin until The Holy Spirit came baptizing each and every member INTO the Body 1Cor.12:13. Acts11:15-16. They were personally filled WITH the Holy Spirit as well as being immersed INTO the Church/Body/Bride. Acts 1:5 “…but you SHALL BE baptized in the Holy Spirit NOT MANY DAYS HENCE” Also evidence that the baptism in the Holy Spirit was still future as of events in Acts 1.

It is ONLY those who are IN Christ; IN Jesus; IN Jesus Christ; IN whom; IN the Lord, in a very technical way, referring to those who were baptized BY The Holy Spirit INTO the Body of The Messiah at rebirth who will partake of the Rapture. O.T. Saints and Tribulation saints are not baptised into the Body that is the Church.

May I repeat a previous observation concerning Israel and the Church being the same?

How can Israel / Church be both mortal and immortal at one and the same time? How can just one ‘entity’ go into the Millennium as mortals, getting married and having children and at the same time be like the angels not giving in marriage, not reproducing and be perfect like Jesus given incorruptible bodies at the Rapture?

The nation of Israel are to have a physical Land to repopulate after the Tribulation, during the millennium.The Church are given immortal bodies at the Rapture and have their citizenship in Christ in heaven.

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Lamb & Lion Ministries was established for the purpose of proclaiming the soon return of Jesus. We do not believe it is possible to know the date when Jesus will return. But we do believe it is possible to know the season of the Lord's return, and it is our conviction that we are living in that season...